How Deep to Plant a Packaged Grape Vine

Grape vines are often sold as bare root plants. When a plant is sold as a bare root, it is packaged in burlap or a plastic bag. Nothing more than a stick is usually included, along with some roots. Oregon State University advises that you keep the roots of dormant, bare root grape vines moist and not allow them to dry out before you plant them. Many varieties of grapes exist, from the common Thompson seedless table grape to more exotic types, such as the Chardonnay wine grape. The planting depth for all grapes is the same.

Loamy soil
Compost
Shovel
Clippers

Instructions

- 1
  Weed a sunny area where you plan to plant your bare root grape vine. If your soil does not drain quickly, dig in 1 part organic compost to every 4 parts of soil before you plant your grape.
- 2
  Remove your grape vine from its packaging and then prune all broken and spindly roots. Also leave just one robust cane by cutting off all other above-ground portions of the vine.
- 3
  Dig one planting hole for each grape vine you plan to plant. Measure the depth of the root system and then dig your hole the same depth, but make it slightly wider than the root system.
- 4
  Set each grape vine into its planting hole and then spread the roots evenly throughout the hole, distributing them around the base of the plant.
- 5
  Refill the planting hole with the soil you removed, making certain to plant your grape vine no deeper than it was in its nursery pot or other form of packaging, according to Oregon State University.
- 6
  Create a slightly indented basin around the base of each plant after you plant it. You can mound up soil in a circular pattern about 1 foot to 18 inches in diameter to form a basin; this will allow you to flood the grape vine when you water it.

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